Nothing like a swim in a hot springs pool after dinner and a McKenzie River lullaby to make for a good night's sleep. We awoke well rested and ready to head back up to Scott lake. Upon getting out of the van, we were showered by snowflake like ash. When we got to the lake side, the far shore was in a haze of smoke and the air was HOT. I really wondered if the high altitude, smoke obscured, sun warmth was not augmented by forest fire heat. Smoke, haze and heat made no difference. Today was sit, enjoy nature and read. We had hauled in our lounge chairs just for that agenda.
Paradise: morning coffee, a good book and dogs free to run and swim.
Paradise: morning coffee, a good book and dogs free to run and swim.
After a couple of hours, keeping track of dogs giving chase to squirrels made concentrating on my book close to useless. I hooked the dogs to a gangline and gave them each a bone. 
Ma Nature then added her own distractions. Next came an honest-to-doG tornado. I was almost asleep when there was a rushing, whistling sound. The temperature dropped significantly. The lakeside rushes swirled, tore and lifted. The entire lake became full of whitecaps. As suddenly as it appeared, it stopped about 20' from where we were and the air cleared. I have never experienced anything like it.
We then had front row seats to four ducks repeatedly doing mating dances on the lake. They first would flash their bright white sides. They then ran across the surface of the water, flapping wings and flashing white bellies while singing.
This not being our normal wilderness adventure, why rough it? For dinner we headed over the pass to the town of Sisters. Our table-side show was a brilliant orange glow traveling through the trees as the sun went down.
The fire from the town of Sisters. Just left of the sun is Black Butte, then the North Sister and the forest fire smoke blocking the view of the other mountains.
Further up the pass we stopped for pictures of Mt. Washington and Scott Mt in the spectacular smoke filtered sunset..
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| Mt. Washington |
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| Me taking Mt Washington picture |
We stopped again at the top of the pass for the last sunset pictures. The fire information sign said that the fire was now 22,500 acres.
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| North and Middle Sister from the west. (Fire is on the east slope) |
One final sunset shot then back for a soak in the hot springs pool and another good night's rest. 
Note: As of tonight, the fire is at 25,500 acres.
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